Originally published November 21, 2017 at 11:11 am Updated November 21, 2017 at 1:28 pm

Boeing has appointed top engineer Terry Beezhold to the leadership team for its New Mid-market Airplane program, which is anticipated to be its next all-new jet. It’s another step toward a likely launch of the new airplane, already widely referred to as the 797.

Boeing has appointed top engineer Terry Beezhold to the leadership team for its New Mid-market Airplane (NMA) program, which is anticipated to be its next all-new jet. The appointment is another step toward a likely launch within 18 months of the new airplane, already widely referred to as the 797.

Beezhold most recently was chief project engineer on the 777X program, leading efforts to complete the design of that airplane — a 777 derivative with a giant new plastic composite wing — and to introduce a highly automated production line.

Before that, he was an airplane systems engineer on the 787 Dreamliner program.